Six-line Wrasse

ID points

• Six orange stripes run from head to tail on a purple ground
• A blue-edged black eyespot on the tail base
• Very small, always darting through reef crevices

Basics

Family

Labridae

Length

6–8 cm

Depth

2-35 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Coral reefs from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific

Habitat

Branching corals and reef crevices

Diet

Small crustaceans

Easily confused with

Cleaner WrasseA black stripe runs from the snout straight through to the tailFlasher WrasseCourting males flash neon colours over the whole body in an instantRockmover Wrasse (Juvenile)Juveniles have two fin rays on top of the head drawn out like antennae

Fun fact

The six line wrasse carries six parallel stripes of neon blue and orange along its flanks, brilliantly coloured and strongly contrasting. They are extremely busy, restless little fish on the reef, and they feed on small invertebrates.

More in this family

• Bird Wrasse
• Harlequin Tuskfish
• Leopard Wrasse
• Moon Wrasse
• Napoleon Wrasse
• Rockmover Wrasse
• Slingjaw Wrasse
• Tuskfish